translation_id: net-engnet

label: NET study note

text: God our Savior. Use of the title “Savior” for God the Father is characteristic of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. It occurs six times in these letters, but only twice elsewhere in the NT. However, it occurs commonly in the OT, especially in Isaiah. It emphasizes the Father as the initiator and source of salvation.


text: Myths and interminable genealogies. These myths were legendary tales characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus and Crete. See parallels in 1 Tim 4:7 ; 2 Tim 4:4 ; and Titus 1:14 . They were perhaps built by speculation from the patriarchal narratives in the OT; hence the connection with genealogies and with wanting to be teachers of the law (v. 7 ).


text: Law. There is no definite article (“the”) with this word in Greek and so the inherent quality of the OT law as such is in view. But the OT law is still in mind, since the types of sinful people surveyed in vv. 9 b-11a follow the general outline of sins prohibited in the Decalogue.


text: This charge refers to the task Paul described to Timothy in vv. 3-7 above.


text: The prophecies once spoken about you were apparently spoken at Timothy’s ordination (cf. 1 Tim 4:14 ) and perhaps spoke of what God would do through him. Thus they can encourage him in his work, as the next clause says.


text: The expression handed over to Satan refers to an act of discipline mentioned by Paul here and in 1 Cor 5:5 , with a remedial goal, not a punitive one. The Greek word translated taught in this verse is used of “discipline, training of children” to lead them to correct behavior.